State of the City 2016

A mobile app, a restructuring of City Hall departments, and a campaign to entice a grocery store to make Rahway its home were among the highlights of the 2016 State of the City address.

Mayor Samson Steinman delivered his third State of the City address Friday night at Union County Performing Arts Center. [Editor’s note: I was unable to attend because I was out of town on a business trip but the mayor provided a copy of his remarks, upon which this post is based.]

The mayor announced a campaign to get 10,000 requests filed with Trader Joe’s to bring a market to Rahway. Although locations details have not been disclosed, Steinman said the city has recruited a developer who is willing to offer free rent for a year, or property taxes paid for a year if Trader Joe’s prefers to own the site outright. The mayor encouraged residents to complete a Location Request on the Trader Joe’s website.

“One of the biggest requests I get from residents is to get a grocery story in Rahway. More specifically, one of the most frequent stores I get requested is Trader Joe’s,” the mayor said. “Let’s convince all the naysayers out there that Trader Joe’s and Rahway are a good fit,” he said.

The roof of a nearby Trader Joe’s in Westfield collapsed during last month’s snowstorm and part of the building had to be razed. That seems to have led to some discussions on social media about finding another site for a TJ’s, though the company plans to reopen in Westfield, according to reports.

Thirty new businesses opened in Rahway last year, according to the mayor (most of which were chronicled in quarterly posts here about retail/commercial turnover). In addition to IMM’s planned move downtown, Steinman said a “biotech graphic technology” company will relocate from Somerset County, bringing 20 employees to start. There’s also a “successful restaurateur from a neighboring community” who will open two downtown locations, and a Latin Soul food restaurant will open this year from “one of Rahway’s own residents,” he said.

The mayor will make a recommendation to City Council next month that would reduce the number of departments from nine to eight, including “redefinition of employee roles” and other training, that he estimates will save at least $250,000 in the first year and more in the next few years.

On a lighter note unrelated to redevelopment, congratulations to the mayor on achieving his goal — and then some — in the 2014 Mayor’s Wellness Challenge. He took the pledge to lose 10 percent of his body weight and said in his State of the City that he’s lost 100 pounds, well over 10 percent, “and still working hard.”

Congrats Mayor on losing 100 lbs! I saw you a few months ago and noticed, but didn’t want to say anything. Keep it going! Glad to see so much development going on. Id love to see more restaurants, and a coffee/bagel shop. I also emailed trader joes.